MILLIONS of people suffering depression and anxiety are not receiving any treatment. How about taking out a 'book on prescription' from your local library?

If you went to your GP struggling with depression, you might expect them to suggest counselling, or anti-depressant drugs.

How would you feel if they pointed you towards your local library?

Launching on June 4, the Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme, a partnership between the Reading Agency charity and the Society of Chief Librarians, will see libraries across England stocking a core list of 30 self-help titles to help people with common conditions such as depression, anxiety, phobias and eating disorders.

The 'prescription' element isn't to be taken literally, though.

Though the list will be there for GPs to make suggestions, the books will be available to everybody from June 10 - to borrow from their libraries for free.

So far, 127 libraries have signed up, which equates to 84% of England's network.

Books on Prescription (BOP) schemes are already in place in Wales and Northern Ireland and some libraries in Scotland, and local models have previously existed in parts of England. But this marks the first nation-wide scheme for England.

"The model was first developed in Cardiff by psychologist Professor Neil Frude," explains Debbie Hicks, head of research for The Reading Agency.

"There's been a scheme in Wales since 2005 and lots of local schemes in England and Scotland.

"What we've done is pool all that best practice together and create the first national scheme for England.

"We looked at books already being used, then had an expert panel whittle them down to 30 books. So those have all been recommended by experts and national partners we're working with."

These partners include the Royal College of GPs, Royal College of Psychiatrists, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the mental health charity Mind, and the scheme operates within National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

So if you thought self-help books were simply a publishing marketer's dream, or wishy-washy nonsense, think again.

"Evidence is growing that self-help is effective," says Dr Paul Blenkiron, consultant in adult psychiatry for Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and one of the BOP panel of experts.

"Most of the books on the list are based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is an effective treatment for common mental health problems, backed up by solid research evidence.

"CBT involves learning to change the way we think and react to events in our lives - it's a self-help therapy!

"The conditions covered include anxiety, stress, depression, panic, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders and sleep problems. There are also books on some physical conditions too, such as chronic pain and chronic fatigue."

One in four people suffer mental health problems at some stage in their life, and treating these costs the NHS around £14 million a year.

But the scheme isn't about reducing the number of people receiving existing, or more traditional, treatments - it's about providing an additional support framework; one which may prove hugely beneficial.

"The scheme is not a substitute for other care, but an addition that gives people choice," says Blenkiron.

"People can self refer or go through their GP or other professionals.

"The books can be used in different ways. People can start reading one of the recommended texts to find out more about their condition and how they can manage it. This can be done while waiting to be seen after being referred for CBT or other help in the NHS, or supported by their mental health worker, psychologist or psychiatrist.

"The books can also be used alongside medication, if their anxiety or depression is more severe."

People with severe mental health problems should, of course, see their GPs, to ensure they're given the right support.

But, as Hicks points out, the books could be an important "first step" for many.

"There are 4.5 million people in England who are not getting clinical help for conditions like anxiety and depression," she says.

"Most people are perhaps Googling advice and coming up with all sorts of things. But we already know that a lot of people use libraries for health information, and having a quality endorsed book collection in libraries might be a crucial first step, to put them on the road to seeking help and advice."

Another benefit of the scheme is its very nature - having the option to increase your understanding and coping mechanisms for conditions such as depression and anxiety can be immensely empowering to sufferers, plus reading has therapeutic qualities of its own.

"We've been working on this area for 10 years now, around the health and wellbeing benefits of reading, and there's growing evidence that reading itself can be very therapeutic," says Hicks.

"You can escape in books. It's something you can concentrate on, it takes you away from your surroundings, gives you something to immerse yourself in and to focus on, and I think all those things in relation to self-help reading can add additional benefit."

Blenkiron agrees.

"One of the things that people with anxiety and depression feel they get from self-help is to regain a sense of control - that they are actually doing something about it," he says.

Of course, reading is difficult for some people, but the Reading Agency is keen for the scheme to be as accessible as possible. The list contains some simpler, more introductory books, and some audio is available.

Promoting libraries as a therapeutic option has the potential to improve the mental health of the nation.

"People use libraries for a whole variety of reasons. We see a whole socioeconomic cross section of society coming into libraries, which is a unique thing about them, and really makes them a valuable community hub," says Martin Burton, head of libraries for South Gloucestershire.

"This service compliments the whole environment of libraries. Just the very fact of reading helps you relax and understand your emotions sometimes. These are advantages for the power of reading."

Burton and Hicks appreciate that some people might feel uncomfortable with the idea of approaching their local library and asking for a self-help book, but would urge anybody to give it a go.

"Libraries are very welcoming places, nobody challenges you when you walk in, nobody asks you what you're using it for. In that sense they're very unique places in the community," says Burton.

"If you've never been in a library before and want to know your way around, you can ask any member of staff for help, and joining libraries is very easy, and they're a free service.

"Self-services machines are being used in increasing numbers of libraries and this means you can borrow books without even having to interface with a person. This makes it more anonymous and saves people from having to communicate with a member of staff if they're taking out a sensitive book or something they may prefer to keep private."

Running alongside the POB list, the Reading Agency has also devised a Mood-boosting Books list, with 20 uplifting titles recommended by readers, including novels and poetry.

"This is a completely different list," says Hicks.

"We talked to lots of readers who have experienced depression or anxiety about what books made them feel better or cheered them up."

:: Reading Well Books on Prescription is launched by the Reading Agency and Society of Chief Librarians on Tuesday, June 4.

For more information and to see the full list of 30 self-help books, visit www.readingagency.org.uk/adults/practitioners-guides/reading-well-resources.html

:: To find out more about the Reading Agency's Mood-boosting Books list, visit www.readingagency.org.uk/adults/tips/reading-well-mood-boosting-books-list.html